Pakistani all-rounder Shoaib Malik directly fly out to India from Dubai to join her wife Sania Mirza after Men in Green failed to qualify for the Asia Cup 2018 final, as the couple are preparing for parenthood.   

Shoaib wanted to spend time with his wife for a few days ahead of the birth of their child, as the couple is set to welcome their first bundle of joy in the early days of October.

While the reports suggested that the child is expected to be born in Sania’s hometown Hyderabad in India. However, there is not any official confirmation regarding the same.

The News has also reported that the all-rounder had already sought permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to fly to Hyderabad from Dubai. The 36-year-old also requested his fans to pray that everything runs smoothly. Shoaib stated, “I have taken permission from the team management to remain with my wife at the time of birth.”

Recently, Malik had described this as one of the toughest parts of being an athlete. He had added, “I really miss being next to her during these precious times. I try to visit her even if I get a day’s break from my national duties. Behind an athlete’s successful career lies many sacrifices, of which the toughest choice is not being able to give even time to the family due to tours and training. Sania understands this better than I do, you can’t be World’s No. 1 otherwise, and she is coping with this phase of life very well.”

On the professional front, Shoaib enjoyed a great time with the bat in the just concluded Asia Cup 2018 in the UAE, amassed 211 runs in the five matches including two half-centuries.